Emergency safety wheel



March 11,1941. A. BRISKMAN 2,234,838

EMERGENCY SAFETY WHEEL Filed Feb. 9, 1939 Patented Mar. 11, 1941 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE ipier cent to Albert II. Briskman, BaltimorApplication February 9, 1939, Serial No. 255,445

' 1 Claim. ((1301-38) This invention refers to automobiles and moreparticularly to the wheels thereof, and auxiliary devices to counteractthe effects of punctures in the tires used on same. It has among itsobjects to provide for the following features;

To provide a false wheel that will sustain the wheel in an emergency,arising from the pneumatic tire on the same becoming flat;

To have such wheel capable of functioningfor a reasonable period ordistance and thereby save the tire from destruction and the steeringmech anism from dangerous maneuvering;

To have such a wheel easily attachable to the parts of the automobilewheel assembly and arranged not to interfere with the replacing orremoval of the pnetunatic tire on the main wheel, which this false wheelis mounted adjacent to.

Other features are to have the design of the wheel suitable for the workand functions attributed to it, and the capacity to adapt itself to theemergencyrequirements arising.

Other objects will become apparent as the invention is more fully setforth.

The provision of an emergency wheel for preventing the spoilage ofpneumatic tires and tubes that go fiat while the automobile is runningon the highway, is a matter of considerable importance as it alsoprevents the danger of steering mechanism'disruption and the subsequentgreater damage to the automobile and its passengers. This inventionanticipates these conditions by providing an emergency wheel with solidtire thereon that will become effective when the tire is deflated anexcessive amount. The emer-- gency wheel being without the usualpneumatic resiliency indicates immediately the condition of thepneumatic tire to the driver, so that he can stop the automobile andinvestigate. It is formed so as to take up the stresses occasioned bythe automobile weight and speed incurred in the emergency. It is mountedon the brake drum and connected with same in a substantial manner andbeing located on the inside surface of the wheel, does not interferewith the normal removal of the tire wheel and the pneumatic tire on thesame. The new emergency wheel does not require any material change inthe number of bolts used in connection with the attachment of the tirewheel and cooperates with those in stalled to bring about the necessaryconnections. The relative cost of the emergency wheel is small and ismore economical to use than to pay for damages incurred arising fromtheconditions that the emergency wheel ameliorates.

The emergency safety wheels are particularly necessary on the front orsteering wheels, since the blow -out of the pneumatic tires on thesewheels will tend to cause an erratic movement of the vehicle that mayfollow with a serious accident. The tires on the emergency wheels are 5secured through the use of a dovetailed arrangement of tire andperipheral groove of the wheel, this arrangement forming positivelooking for the tire on the wheel, against the twisting stresses arisingduring the first moments of the emergencies, tending to remove ordismantle the emergency tire.

In the drawingpwhich illustrates an embodiment of this invention:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of an auto- 1 mobile wheel, with anemergency wheel embodying this invention, attached to it,

Figure 2 is a sectional view of the emergency wheel taken along the line2-4 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a modified form of emergency wheel in section.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout thedrawing.

In the construction indicated i represents the conventional constructionof an automobile wheel adapted for a pneumatic tire 2. The centralportion of the wheel 3 is arranged with holes for holding bolts 4 andaxle assembly, or brake drum parts 6. These holding bolts are arrangedto project through a back or central plate I of an emergency wheelstructure 8 which is formed with dished out cfl set formation adapted tobring a peripheral groove portion l close to the side oi? the tire i.This groove portion has converging walls that serve to contain and holdthe base portion l I of a solid rubber or resilient tire H. The the i2has a circumferential outline based on a diameter less than that of theexterior peripheral line of the tire 2, when infiated. The deflation ofthe tire 2 and its physia a cal distortion due to running on the groundwhile so deflated, bring its casing and tube parts to a position wherethe rigid emergency wheel will sustain the weight of the auto-vehiclenormally sustained by the tire 2 and its wheel structure. This actionsaves the tire 2 from the grounding and grinding'and incident damage tothe casing and tube thereof, and possibly their destruction. Theemergency wheel takes up the stresses and weight incident to its beingcalled 60 into play and enables the automobile to be brought to a slowstop without erratic reactions on the steering mechanism and guiding.

The cylindrical part of the brake drum shown in Figure 2 is a part ofthe wheel 8, and also of the central plate 1, this is preierablyprovided for by expanding the wheel through the use of heat and thentightening on therim of the drum inserted in place after cooling same.This makes the parts practically integral and solidly Joined, so as tobe one piece or unit.

The attachment of the emergency wheel to the main wheel is brought aboutby the attachment of the back plate I to the hub portion of thepneumatic wheel structure, by the bolts which are made slightly longerthan usual to provide for the greater thickness which the additionalmember adds. The emergency wheel is located on the inside face of thewheel I, and adjacent the brake drum 8, on which it rests;

The modified form of emergency wheel indicated in Figure 3 is similar tothe previous structure in general, but is attached somewhat differently,in that the back plate is dispensed with, and integral or weldedconnection is made to the brake drum exterior surface as shown at I. Thebolts are not disturbed in their arrangement in any way. This form keepsthe emergency wheel entirely separate from the pneumatic tire wheel,which has certain advantages .under conditions requiring no interferencein the removal and replacement of the latter. The wedge form l2, of therim groove is essential to the device since solid tires unlocked in thisconnection do not stay on, when the emergency wheel is calledintooperation.

The wedge-form or dovetailed construction of the emergency tire I2 is soformed that the portion insertabie in the groove portion II is aboutone-half the total depth of the tire. This is to prevent the leverage onthe peripheral or tread portion of the tire due to the pressure arisingfrom the action of skidding or twisting stresses on the road, fromforcing the tire from the groove.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

In a safety wheel of the class described, in combination, a brake drum,a safety wheel having a central circular plate connecting withconcentric axially stepped portions converging towards the axis thereof,an inner portion surrounding and peripherally resting on the edgeportion of the drum adapted to coact therewith, the periphery of theplate having an integral flange thereon provided with a dove-tailedannular groove, a tire having a rounded road-contacting surface so heldby the said annular groove portion as to be locked against explosionsarising from blow-outs in the main tire located adjacent thereto andfrom being pressed out from the rim during the travel of the safetywheel on the roadway under the sudden reactions caused by the blow-outs,substantially as described.

ALEX BRISKMAN.

